Pakistan, unbeaten under Babar Azam, made it to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. The first short format World Cup was held in 2007 and since then no team has reached the unbeaten semi-finals. The Shaheens made history in the mega event and now Pakistan is the first team to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup without losing a single match.
In the World Cup competitions, the teams of Pakistan and India competed 12 times. Pakistan lost all the matches but this time under the leadership of Babar Azam Pakistan made history and for the first time defeated a rival country in a World Cup. For the first time in T20 history, India lost by 10 wickets and this defeat was borne by Pakistan. In Group Two, Pakistan defeated India, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Namibia and Scotland and secured a place in the semi-finals where they will face Australia.
Pakistan and Australia have met 23 times in the T20 format. Pakistan won 13 matches, lost 9 matches and lost one match without winning. Both the teams won three matches in T20 World Cup. In the short format, Pakistan's weight is heavy, but Australia is far ahead in the knockout competitions of the World Cup. To date, Pakistan has not won a single knockout match against Australia. Both teams competed in the knockout stage four times. Three times in 50 overs World Cup and once in T20 semi-finals and four defeats were the fate of Pakistan.
For the first time, Pakistan and Australia competed in the semi-finals of the 1987 World Cup. In the semi-final played in Lahore, Australia scored 267 runs for 8 wickets. In reply, the national team piled up 249 runs. Australia defeated Pakistan by 18 runs to make it to the final.
Pakistan and Australia clashed for the second time in a knockout match in the 1999 World Cup final. In the match at Lord's, Pakistan scored only 132 runs while playing first. Australia easily won the World Cup by 8 wickets.
In the 2010 T20 World Cup, Pakistan and Australia competed in a knockout match for the third time. In the semi-final, Pakistan scored 191 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. Kamran Akmal scored 50 and Omar Kamal 56 not out. Chasing the target, half the Australian team was in the pavilion for 105 runs. Australia still needed 87 off 45 balls to win the semi-final. The match was in Pakistan's hands but Michael Hussey snatched the victory from Pakistan alone. Australia needed 18 runs in the last over. Hussey snatched a sure victory from Pakistan by hitting Saeed Ajmal with three sixes and a four.
Pakistan and Australia again competed in the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup. Pakistan batted first and scored 213 runs. Wahab Riaz's Shane Watson became spell history but the national team failed to make history. Australia defeated Pakistan by 6 wickets and then lifted the trophy.
Australia defeated Pakistan four times in a knockout match and also became the three-time world champion. Pakistan and Australia will now compete for the fifth time in Dubai on November 11. Will Pakistan beat Australia in knockout this time? Will the date be money? Or will the tradition of losing to Australia in the knockout continue?
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